Any Jehovah's Witnesses here that can answer my questions about Christmas?

Hello Queen of Yack,

As for her paticular choices,

you would have to ask this mother.

That is her and or hers and the fathers choice.

Possibly, they are new to the Christian faith,

and are slowly adjusting the child (ren).

Sorry, I can't be of more help.

Ask her, she will not be offened, nor mind you asking.

Jehovah's Witnesses are known for being willing

to speak about God's word, will, and ways.

1} It's not that we have "rules" per say,

Commandments, principles and such.

2} Regarding x-mas. It's not that we are forbidden by man.

3} We do not participate in any of the traditions or customs

associated with this pagan, worldly holiday.

http://www.watchtower.org/e/20001215/article_01.ht...

The rules we follow are set out in God's word the Bible.

Each person choses to not do this because,

upon a careful and through examination of Bible Scripture.

We have come to the understanding that this practice

which has its roots in pagan religions;

does not keep a person or a persons households'

worship clean and pure.

http://www.watchtower.org/e/19981001/article_02.ht...

i.e. Can you discern the similarites here?:

decorating a tree, singing around it, merry-making, feasts.

"Moses coming down the mountain

with with the Ten Commandments,

and when he saw what the Hebrews were doing,

he threw the tablets to the ground, smashing them."

They had made a golden calf

and were singing, dancing, worship it

You can liken it to the same thing.

Idol worship.

"Thou shalt not worship any graven images."

The Bible also says that if a person

does decide to have holy days or not,

we are not to judge each other.

This is our 'Rules' we live by.

We chose to have no any share in any of it.

http://www.watchtower.org/e/rq/article_11.htm

I answered a question just last week.

I included many secular and some non-secular sources.

Let me go get it and add it here, brb.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AnN.B...

I am not a Baptized Witness, but I am working on it.

I am associated / I align myself, with them,

because I live according to the Bible

as do Jehovah's Witnesses,

to the best of my ability.

I'm not Jehovah Witness. I can tell you that my understanding is that they believe Christ was born on something called Nisin 6th (that may be spelt wrong). I also understand that they do not celebrate because Jesus did not celebrate any holidays. However, for that mother in particular. It is so difficult to have a child be totally left out of a Christmas party where all her friends are having so much fun. Perhaps it was a comprimse for the child's benifit. As usual, I think it is up to the parents as to how much the children are allowed to do. I went to school with a Jehovah Witness and he didn't really participate with the class party but he did enjoy himself by taking the time to play checkers or such.

As one of Jehovah's Witnesses I can say why we do not partake in X-Mas. We do our best to live by the Bible. We truly believe it is the Word of God. In it there is no date or day or year of when Jesus was born. It does however tell us every detail of his death. God let us know this in His Word, the Holy Bible. His birth was not the reason he came to earth. Jesus came to die for us so to do that he would have to have been born. The point of Jesus coming was to live a perfect life without sin so he could be the ransom so we could gain everlasting life in Paradise, which in on earth by the way. Adam and Eve were to make earth a Paradise.

We do celebrate his death every year on the actual date he died.

When my children were in the lower grades and the parties were going on they went to the library and did not partake and didn't get the candy or gifts either. That's a parents conscience weather they do anything with that. I personally won't do it. To me that's sending a mixed message.

Please tell me what Watchtower that was in. Many years back, in the 60's or early 70's some did partake but we no longer do, just like our early Kingdom Halls had crosses but no longer do.

If you overheard that question and it went down as you described, then the parent was NOT one of Jehovah's Witnesses, because we have NO share in the holiday celebrations themselves or any other aspect of it (gifts, food, cards, etc). No Jehovah's Witness parent would have asked to exclude the child from the party only to say they COULD accept the candy and cards.

Jehovah's Witnesses do NOT celebrate Christmas in any way, shape, or form. We recognize that the Bible tells us only to celebrate Jesus' DEATH and not his birth; we also recognize that the only mentions of birthday celebrations in the Bible were held by non-worshipers of the true God and both instances involved murders (one of which was God's own prophet, John the Baptizer). Jehovah's Witnesses also know of the pagan false religious origins behind Christmas and because we endeavor to serve God "in spirit and truth", we have no share in such celebrations.

Without more details it is hard to give an answer or comment on this.

Was the candy/treats being sent home as a gift? Rather than having the child eat them at school?

When my children were little and in school, I told them that if they had a special friend that wanted to give them a piece of candy, they could have it, but it had to be brought home before eating it. I would always remind them to thank whoever, whether a classmate or a teacher for any small gift or card.

Concerning the mother that removed the money from the card - no one knows whether that money was set aside for later purchases for the child, at a time when the child would not associate it with Christmas.

When my children would get money as a gift, it would go into a savings account. They again always sent thanks, but without mentioning the particular holiday it was sent for. And they always told what they were using the money for.

When I worked on a secular job, I would come to my desk at a holiday time, and because I did not celebrate Christmas, my workmates were kind in that they would place a card and a piece of candy on my desk to let me know that I was being thought of by them. But they never expected me to participate with them in their party.

The time I chose to think of them was when I would travel overseas on vacation and bring back each of my workmates a small gift from the country I visited.

I respected their thoughtfulness and they respected mine. There were never harsh words or actions because I believed differently.

When we had lunch together, we had a Hindu from India that worked in our department who required a vegetarian pizza for religious reasons. We never complained or whined or put her down for such a thing. We just always quietly remembered that Sunita needed a separate order. No problem.

Differences are differences. Can we not respect them?

Contrary to popular belief, the Jehovah's Witnesses are not controlled by the Watchtower Bible Tract Society. As you can see with what you over heard. The advice of BamooBam isa Worshiper of Jah is very wise in you asking the mother of the child.

I have always had this advice & gave this advice; Don't believe anything you hear & 1/2 of what you see.

This lady may have an unbelieving husband & the child is caught between parents that have different views of faith, we just don't know & we should never assume without all the facts.

It's against the law to destroy money, it's not against the law to destroy a Christmas Card, people give gifts to Jehovah's witnesses just to see how they will react & no matter how the Witness reacts they will belittle & condemn the way we react. If you know a person is a Witness & you still act in away that is against there faith, who is the one acting rude?

I can only speak for myself....I had 6 children...they would go to the library together while the party went on...the school day was over because that was the last class...my children would get toys long before and after the holiday...in fact all through the year...I didn't have to wait for a special day...

But to keep my children from feeling left out of wrapped packages...i would buy gift wrap and even the simple things like new socks and undies got wrapped....they loved opening the gifts....all year long.

The love my children felt from their family overcame any bad feelings their peers could throw at them.

I am not a JW but an old friend who is told me it is because of it's origins as a pagan Winter Solstice festival.

Still- it does have over 1500 years of association with Christ! Hardly the only thing about Christianity that comes from Pagan tradition...

My sister is a JW. She would allow her children to accept Christmas gifts but would not let them open them up with the family around the tree. If we put money for her in a Christmas card she would take out the money and pocket it, then throw the card away in front of us to show that she rejected Christmas.

She would complain that Christmas had just become a big greedfest, then go the day after Christmas and buy her kids all the stuff the other kids got when it was marked down.

This did not go over well with the rest of the family, but to keep peace we did not argue with her about it.

Erm.... don't Jehovah's Witnesses go 'door-knocking' all the time? Why don't you ask them when they stop by? At least then you know you're actually getting an answer from a JW instead of someone just claiming to be one (if someone would actually be so inclined to do that).

Alternatively, go to their church and ask someone there. I have one a few blocks away from where I live.